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This book is dedicated to the memory
References 190
Index 203
Foreword
by Gerard E. Mullin, MD
Gerard E. Mullin, MD, MHS, CNS, CNSP, FACN, FACP, AGAF, ABHM
x
The Chronic Stress Crisis
PART I
THE CHRONIC STRESS
RESPONSE
Dr. William G. Timmins
The Chronic Stress Crisis
Chapter 1
My Battle with Chronic Stress
You will never recover from your illness. Your prognosis is grave at
best. Weve done all we can for you.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
However, the medicine was so strong that I became drowsy and barely
able to function.
I had a tough choice: struggle with the sneezing, watery eyes and
itchy skin or take the medications and be free from the symptoms but get
dizzy and fatigued. What a terrible catch-22 for a young boy to live with.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
Extreme Allergies
A few months after starting the furniture sales job, my skin broke out
in hives as I manifested allergic reactions to foods. My other long-
standing allergies, dormant for years, erupted as well. When I told
doctors about my problem, they tried to convince me it wasnt related to
food. I decided to experiment on myself. I started by eliminating different
foods from my diet and soon noticed my skin clearing up. Happily, I found
a way out of my problem through my own reasoning and
experimentation.
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For the first seven days of my 30-day stay, I was put on a water fast
and given enemas daily to help detoxify my body. Then the diagnostic
process began. Clinicians gave me small amounts of different foods to
determine which ones my body could tolerate without a reaction. Next
came testing to identify other allergies and sensitivities. The plan was to
treat me with neutralizing dosages of the things to which I tested allergic,
a process called provocative desensitization given to me both orally and
subcutaneously (under the skin) to see whether it caused a reaction and,
if so, the extent of the reaction. The provocative testing began with a
small amount of substance. Once the team identified my exact
sensitivities, they gave me drops under my tongue or injections of tiny
amounts of the offending substance. The intent was to neutralize my
bodys reaction, build a tolerance to the offending substances, and
identify at least 12 safe foods for me to eat on a four-day rotation diet.
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The Chronic Stress Crisis
We couldnt find even one safe food! The diet didnt work. The
treatments didnt work. Nothing worked.
A Safe Environment
I returned to California and went directly to my fathers house in
Yucaipa, east of Los Angeles. Dad had created a safe room for me that,
for the most part, kept me isolated from the external environment. I still
had no safe foods to eat and, unfortunately, Yucaipas air was extremely
polluted. I managed rather well until about noon each day, when the
smog started rolling in from Los Angeles. I simply couldnt keep the toxic
air from seeping into my environment. Although my father was happy to
see me, he was baffled and bewildered about my need to live in an
isolated and tightly controlled environment. To him, my health seemed to
have worsened since I returned from the treatment at Henrotin.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
Each afternoon as the smog crept in, I drove into the mountains
around Big Bear Lake to find cleaner air to breathe. I had actually lined
the inside of my car with aluminum foil to reduce outside air from coming
in. Eventually my safe haven disappeared as the smog spread, rolling all
the way up the ranges to Big Bear Lake. The trees were turning brown
from the pollution.
Aside from the air pollution, it was time for me to find another place
to live. I realized that the ongoing stress on my father was taking its toll.
He tried to help me, yet my misery continued. Dads despair, anguish,
and frustration grew. I knew his health would eventually suffer. In
addition, my private disability insurance would soon run out and I
couldnt drain my dads limited resources. Where could I go with no
money that would be a safe environment?
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The Chronic Stress Crisis
first, and my words gushed forth as I told him about my symptoms and
suffering. I told him that living in my fathers house was no longer an
option because of the increased air pollution. I had no safe place to live.
Father Doug listened patiently, then invited me to share a house with him
in San Clemente, located only a half block from the beach. The air quality
would be much better, he promised. Talk about divine intervention! I
gratefully accepted his offer.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
Finally, a Clue
I read everything about environmental illness that I could get my
hands on. The books and articles discussed many things relating to
exposuresboth acute and chronicto which I had been subject in my
work and home environments. Reading them was difficult, not because
of the content, but because of the cumbersome process that my health
condition necessitated. I had to do all my reading through a strange
device called a book box. To use this contraption, I placed my hands
inside gloves that were attached to holes drilled in the box. I would then
turn on a vacuum to remove any harmful chemical residues that the book
might give off, thereby saving me from exposure to the chemicals out-
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Dr. William G. Timmins
I contacted people with whom I had worked and grown up, to learn
whether they had experienced any environmental illness or chemical
hypersensitivity. Luckily, my detective work began to produce results.
These people had been exposed to many of the same environmental
elements that had made me sick, but none of them suffered from
environmental illness. This created more of a puzzle, but it gave me an
important clue: Perhaps my internal environment was just as, if not
more, significant as my external environment.
Chronic stress is any kind of stress that is repetitive and ongoing. The
source can be internal or external. With my research now pointing to the
impacts and sources of chronic stress, it appeared that multiple factors
could be driving my illness. I identified a lengthy and frightening list of
lifestyle, biochemical, and psychological stresses that I had been
experiencing for a long time. As I studied the list, I experienced a
profound realization: my symptoms paralleled the bodys natural
responses to chronic stress on the hormone, immune, detoxification, and
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The Chronic Stress Crisis
Toxins Inside
Among the dozens of books I read, Hal Hugginss Its All in Your Head
cornered my attention. Dr. Huggins presents a comprehensive study of
the negative effects of mercury amalgam dental fillings. The book
convinced me that the metal in my mouth was a serious problem, so I
decided that a good starting point on my path to recovery was to have all
of my fillings removed. However, my chemical sensitivity made it
impossible for me to tolerate any type of anesthetic. Therefore, I drew on
what I had been taught during many years of martial arts training: I
practiced deep meditation to block the pain during the dental work. My
dentist was able to remove 14 mercury amalgam fillings without
administering anesthetics.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
The next major discovery in my research was the work of Zane Gard,
MD, who had developed a sauna detoxification program. It was time to
get the toxic chemicals and pesticides out of my body. Living out in the
desert had initiated that process, but I couldnt rely upon the desert
climate alone. I met with Dr. Gard and he began by testing my blood. One
of the blood panels he ran showed a high level of the chlorinated
pesticide trans-nonachlor. Decades earlier, the U.S. government had
outlawed trans-nonachlor. Manufacturers were prohibited from
producing or selling it. However, pesticide companies were allowed to
use up the inventory they had. I discovered that this pesticide had been
used in the home I had purchased in Oregon, which explained my
exposure to it.
Since Dr. Gard had never treated anyone with such high levels of this
deadly substance, he approached detoxification slowly and prudently.
First, he researched trans-nonachlor and learned that it was known to
cause permanent neurological damage. Dr. Gard also had great concern
about the many other chemicals that had showed up in my blood tests
and consulted with a toxicologist before putting me through his sauna
program. When the toxicologist saw my reports, he was at a loss for
words. He had no idea why Dr. Gard wanted his inputthe toxicologist
assumed the test results he had reviewed were for a patient who had
died!
New Beginnings
The time in the desert, the dental work, and the detoxification
program were major steps in the beginning of my healing journey. Over
time, I was able to gain more insight into my health problems. Fine-
tuning diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management became my highest
priority every day. Finally, I attained a level of health that enabled me to
return to school and work.
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Chapter 2
Diagnose and Treat the Cause, Not Just the
Symptoms
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If you are like most people, you approach your health with an if its
not broken, dont fix it attitude. You may seek professional help only
when experiencing intolerable symptoms, or when youre afraid the
symptoms might indicate a serious or life-threatening condition. You may
gratefully accept your doctors diagnosis and recommendations for
symptomatic care. Indeed, your symptoms may respond favorably to
prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or natural remedies.
This care may seem like a good thingafter all, we all want to feel
better. However, danger lies in suppressing symptoms while the
underlying cause goes undiagnosed. The disappearance of pain, skin rash,
fatigue, numbness in extremities, heart palpitations, and other symptoms
may be only temporary. The fact that you no longer experience any
symptoms after treatment does not guarantee that they wont return.
Nor does it mean that the cause of the symptoms has been resolved.
potentially dangerous changes in your health are occurring. You wait until
you feel ill before scheduling an appointment with your insurance-
approved doctor or visiting an urgent-care clinic.
When the doctor enters, she reads the assistants notes, glances at
your health history, listens to your heart and lungs, and palpates your
body. Your physician is seeking to classify your symptoms as a specific
illness or disease. Based on an evaluation lasting typically no more than
10 to 15 minutes, your doctor makes a diagnosis of your condition.
Once a diagnosisin this case, a labelis applied to your symptoms, the
doctor can begin fixing your problem. Using standard and customary
medical protocols, the physician treats the symptoms and may
recommend a follow-up visit to determine whether you have been
cured. You have just experienced Medical Intervention.
In cases such as cold and flu, Medical Intervention can get the job
done. Symptomatic relief is sufficient because the bodys defenses are
usually strong enough to overcome occasional minor ailments. These
short-lasting problems tend to respond well, unless the patient has
compromised immunity. But, what if your healthcare professional failed
to adequately analyze your condition? Stomach pain could indicate a
serious bacterial infection like Helicobacter pylori, stomach cancer, or
even food poisoning. Would your treatment differ if the doctor had been
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Dr. William G. Timmins
What if, instead, his tests had determined why he wasnt producing
enough hydrochloric acid? What if the tests had revealed the cause of his
hydrochloric acid insufficiency? He may have had a chance to kill the
cancer and get a new lease on life.
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Stage 5 Death: The final stage. The body cannot compensate any
longer and it cannot sustain the life force. The cumulative effect of stress
has subjected the body to suffer a permanent cessation of all vital
functions. Heart attack, respiratory failure... such events are common in
the transition from stage 4 to stage 5. Many are preventable tragedies.
There is nothing sudden about them; they have been developingoften
unnoticedfor years.
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This material then enters the large intestine. Its main job is to
remove water from the waste products as they pass through and then
recycle this water back to your body. After traveling through this area,
the waste is held at the end of the colon in the rectum. It will then leave
your body through the anus as stool when you have a bowel movement.
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Many of the toxic substances that enter the body are fat-soluble,
which means they dissolve only in fatty or oily solutions and not in water.
This makes them difficult for the body to excrete. Toxins may be stored
for years in fatty tissues, and are released during times of exercise, stress,
or fasting. During the release of these toxins, symptoms such as
headaches, poor memory, stomach pain, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and
heart palpitations can occur.
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point is simply this: All healthcare professionals must improve their ability
to diagnose the causes of illness.
Ultimately, you are the guardian of your health. No one else can
compensate or take blame for poor lifestyle choices. If you trade
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The Chronic Stress Crisis
different kind of doctor, me. During our initial consultation, I learned that
Joe, in addition to being exposed to various toxins while serving his
country in Vietnam, also had a mouth full of toxic metals. His dental work
contained the usual mercury fillings, as well as nickel and lead from
dental care received while in the military more than a decade earlier.
Within a month after completing his dental work and beginning the
detox program, eight of Joes tumors had shrunk substantially. During the
course of the next 12 months, all of his tumors disappeared and his
cancer was declared in remission.
Unlike many people, Joe took total responsibility for his health by
practicing intelligent lifestyle management. His eating habits appeared
flawless and his workout regimen was inspirational. He didnt smoke,
drink, use recreational drugs, or use toxic household products. He
actively practiced preventive healthcare. Whenever something wasnt
right in his body, he would not rest until he knew its cause. Joe had
regained his life and he wasnt about to throw away this second chance.
As part of his prevention practices, he followed my advice and checked
his health status routinely, using various laboratory tests to determine
whether his body was experiencing subclinical stress, and if so, the
source of that stress.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
This routine worked very well for Joe for some time. Then, during a
period when he experienced the height of personal and professional
accomplishments, his luck began to change. Somewhere in the months
before a massive and fatal heart attack, Joes arteries began
accumulating plaque. Given his exemplary lifestyle, including meticulous
eating habits, it is difficult to understand, on the surface, why he became
a victim of heart disease. Some might conclude that the cause was
genetic, although there is no evidence to that effect. Perhaps his extreme
disdain for conventional medicine played a role; he failed to do regular
medical check-ups.
I believe I know why Joe died. About a week before his death, he
called me complaining of a series of symptoms that could be indicative of
heart disease. I urged him to see a cardiologist immediately, or to check
himself into a hospital for diagnosis. Given his busy schedule and disdain
of conventional healthcare, he declined to do so despite voicing concerns
to several other friends that same week. Joe also asked me what I
thought might be driving the symptoms, assuming that they were heart-
related. I noted that plaque caused by various infections could be the
culprit.
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My fervent hope is that by telling Joes story others will be spared his
fate. Joe did not have overt symptoms of either heart disease or H. pylori
infection until the week that he died. Arteriosclerosis is a disease, a label
assigned to a subclinical biological process that does not magically
materialize in a weeks time. If Joe had heeded his other friends and my
advice to seek the immediate advice of a physician, he might be alive
today. If he had maintained his preventive schedule of subclinical testing,
including checking for infections such as H. pylori, he might not have
suffered from heart disease, because the infection could have been
diagnosed and treated before damaging his arteries.
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Chapter 3
The Chronic Stress Response
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The following are but a few of the obvious and obscure stresses that
can lead to degenerative diseases cancer, autoimmune syndrome, and
cardiovascular diseaseif they are allowed to persist and become
chronic. Do you have any of these stresses in your life? This is a trick
question. You may be experiencing some of them and not even know it !
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Dr. William G. Timmins
Infections
Inflammation
Keeping late hours
Light cycle disruption, sleep deprivation
Malabsorption, maldigestion
Mental and emotional trauma
Overwork
Pain, whiplash, other physical injuries
Plant, animal, food, mold, and other allergies
Poor diet
Surgical procedures
Toxic exposures (chemicals, heavy metals, household products,
radiation)
While she was busy taking care of everyone and everything else,
Mary neglected her own health. She ate junk food while on the run, slept
poorly, and didnt set aside time to exercise or relax. Basically, she drove
herself to exhaustion, collapsing into bed every night. Based on
functional lab testing, I learned that she had exhausted adrenal glands
and related hormone imbalances, as well as a Helicobacter pylori
infection.
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Cortisol is not just the primary hormone that responds to stress. Its
also responsible for directing immune function and, in proper balance
with DHEA, plays a vital role in carbohydrate metabolism, detoxification,
inflammatory response, blood sugar regulation, bone and muscle
integrity, and much more. Cortisol also mobilizes stored energy from fat,
making it available to the brain and muscles to deal with stressful
situations. Evolutionarily speaking, this mechanism evolved to assist
humans in dealing with episodic stress, which is both short term and
acute. It wasnt intended to cope with the relentless stress of life in the
21st century.
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Saliva tests can measure the levels of free cortisol and DHEA in the
body. Free hormones (unbound from proteins in the blood) interact with
living tissues and are available to work at the cellular level, making
salivary testing the most accurate option for evaluating hormone activity.
If testing shows that your adrenal glands are health professional can offer
treatment plans and lifestyle advice. If left untreated, adrenal dysfunction
can lead to a totally debilitating and life-threatening form of adrenal
failure known as Addisons disease.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
the sole precursor and regulator for the production of every steroid and
sex hormone in the body. In the Chronic Stress Response, DHEA
production declines, as do the downstream hormones. Take
testosterone, for example. Men with testosterone deficiency typically
experience diminished libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of body hair,
depression, and muscle weakness.
One of the most important questions to ask when you have any
health issue is, Who or what has stolen my pregnenolone? In other
words, what stresses have become chronic, increasing the demand for
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cortisol? The sooner you can identify and deal with the offenders, the
sooner you can achieve optimal health.
Whatever the stresses that are having an impact on your body, they
have one thing in common. When they become chronic, they lead to
Pregnenolone Steal, the fundamental mechanism of the Chronic Stress
Response.
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Syndrome (AIDS), which is caused by the HIV virus. The HIV virus destroys
T lymphocytes.
Taking these steps will increase your odds for living a long and
vibrant life. Longevity comes to those who do not sit idly in wait for
disease and medical intervention.
Robert thought that taking human growth hormone might help him.
Although his growth hormone profile was at the low end of the reference
range for a man his age, I advised him that taking human growth
hormone supplements would not address the root cause of his complex
health problems. Having struggled with no relief for almost 10 years,
Robert felt helpless and had lost hope; he seemed on the verge of a
mental, emotional, and physical breakdown.
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It took two weeks to get Roberts test results. As Ive seen many
times, the results provided the missing links to his health crisis. Robert
had advanced adrenal exhaustion and associated low thyroid output,
which explained his chronic fatigue. He also had maldigestion,
malabsorption, and hypermotility of his small intestine; this meant that
food passed through the small intestine so quickly that it couldnt be
digested, causing malnutrition and related health issues. The
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We did a follow-up exam a year later, which was two years from the
time that I had first seen Robert. I decided to check his human growth
hormone levels again, even though he had not taken human growth
hormone. To my surprise, his results came back toward the upper end of
the reference range of a healthy 20-year-old!
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Ar Ounce of Prevention
Most are familiar with Benjamin Franklins quotation, An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure. Definitely words of wisdom.
Unfortunately, most people dont practice prevention. Instead, they seek
medical intervention when health problems cause symptoms.
Appreciating how the bodys critical systems deteriorate under chronic
stress strengthens your resolve to practice a healthy lifestyle and engage
in preventive healthcare.
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Chapter 4
Adrenal Syndrome
The adrenals are two walnut-sized glands located just above the
kidneys. They are the workhorses of the endocrine (hormone) system.
The endocrine system is a group of glands and tissues that release
hormones directly into the blood or lymph systems, exerting specific
influences on a large number of organs and tissues. Each adrenal gland is
divided into two parts: the outer cortex and the inner medulla. The
adrenal cortex produces the primary hormones involved in the Chronic
Stress Responsecortisol and DHEA.
Alcohol intolerance
Alcoholism
Allergies
Anxiety
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Bacterial infections
Blood sugar imbalances
Craving for sweets
Depression
Difficulty building muscle
Digestive disorders
Diminished sex drive
Dizziness upon standing
Dry and thin skin
Exhaustion
Excessive hunger
Fatigue
Food allergies
Fungal infections
General pain
Hair loss
Headaches
Heart palpitations
Heavy mental fatigue
Heavy physical fatigue
Immune deficiency
Inability to concentrate
Indigestion
Inflammation
Inhalant allergies
Irritability
Joint pain
Liver disorders
Low body temperature
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Sounds simple? It is! I tested her for dysfunction, then delivered the
appropriate therapies. Tragically, conventional medicines standard fix for
Angela would have been to prescribe drugs to mask her gastrointestinal
symptoms and alter her moods.
Think of it this way. ACTH acts on the adrenals like a jockey whipping
a horse to make it run faster. If the jockey ignores the signs that the
horse is fatigued and continues to whip the horse, the horse will keep
running until it collapses in total exhaustion. Unfortunately, you can
expect the same result if you have chronic stress that is out of control.
Lets consider some of the numerous ways that cortisol and DHEA
regulate your health.
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Chapter 5
The Mucosal Barrier: Your First-line Immune
Defense
An analogy can be made between the earths ozone layer and your
bodys mucosal barriers. The ozone layer lets the right amount of sunlight
through, sustaining life on earth; your mucosal barriers allow nutrients
through, sustaining your health. The ozone layer prevents harmful levels
of radiation from getting through; the mucosal barriers prevent infectious
agents and allergens from invading your body. However, just as the earth
has a damaged ozone layer, many of us have compromised mucosal
barriers that fail to protect us from infectious agents, allergens, and other
harmful substances.
I am frequently asked, Why does one person get sick while another
doesnt when theyre both exposed to the same infectious agents?
Typically, people who become ill have compromised first-line immunity.
Take the example of anthrax, which caused fears of terrorism shortly
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Dr. William G. Timmins
after the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Individuals exposed to the
anthrax spores without getting ill had healthy mucosal barriers. Those
who got ill did not. Their mucosal barriers were unable to encapsulate
the spores and eliminate them.
bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, and yeast. Secretory IgA also recognizes
and processes the proteins in foods. When secretory IgA levels are
adequate, food proteins are efficiently processed and the potential for
adverse reactions, including allergies, is reduced.
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Revelations of Research
A study of female monkeys looked at mucosal barrier integrity
relative to penetration of HIV into the vaginal mucosal barrier. It showed
that HIV could not penetrate a healthy barrier. The mucosal barrier has
the ability to defend against the penetration of HIV and virtually any
other opportunistic organism.
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PART II
COMMON SOURCES OF
CHRONIC STRESS
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Chapter 6
Bread: The Staff of Life?
To illustrate how toxic gluten can be, consider the following study.
An endoscope was inserted into the small intestine of glutenintolerant
individuals to deliver a tiny gliadin molecule and observe the resulting
inflammatory response. The effect? The entire small intestine became
inflamed for 10 hours! With this degree of inflammation, mucosal barrier
surfaces are damaged and often destroyed. As you learned in Chapter 5,
this makes way for malabsorption, intestinal permeability, parasitic
infections, and other destructive GI and immune processes. The dominos
fall.
intolerant, but I have seen people of African, Asian, and other ethnic
groups also suffer. In my opinion, based on clinical experience and the
limited research available, tens of millions of people suffer from
subclinical gluten intolerance, and most are unaware of their condition.
Grains have a rich history. Jared Diamonds book Guns, Germs and
Steel does a great job of telling the story of how cereal grains primarily
wheat and barleywere exported from their origins in North Africa and
made their way through Europe to the United States. But humans are
genetically designed to thrive on whatever food grows on their native
soil. A lot can be said for eating according to our unique regional and
hereditary backgrounds.
More can be said about how greed is responsible for foreign grains
becoming commonplace on United States soil. These grains are more of a
commodity than they are nutritious. With emphasis placed on growing
and transporting high volumes of grains quickly and cheaply, genetic
modifications, additives, nutrient destruction, and pesticides are more
common than ever. While good sources of organic and sustainably
farmed grains are available, they are more the exception than the norm,
and typically one must seek out a specialty store to acquire them.
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I reviewed her chart and noticed that her heritage was mostly Irish. I
knew that a high statistical risk existed that she could be celiac, yet she
had not shown any of the associated symptoms and there was no family
history of celiac sprue. One thing led me to suspect that Betty might have
a problem with gluten intolerance: her osteoporosis.
I suggested to Betty that she begin a gluten-free diet. She was happy
to try it. The results were totally unexpected. Within 60 days of removing
all gluten from her diet, her symptoms disappeared! She no longer had
chronic fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia, or problems with sleep, and we
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Dangerous Grains
The following examples illustrate the high cost of ignoring gluten
intolerance and represent just a fraction of the health issues associated
with this condition. As noted earlier in this chapter, in my clinical
practice, gluten intolerance has proven to be the single most common
source of chronic stress among my patients.
Dairy and sugar are unwelcome. Lactase and sucrase, two enzymes
found in the microvilli (hair-like fibers that cover the villi of the small
intestine), digest lactose (the sugar component of dairy products) and
sucrose (sugars). When the microvilli are damaged by the inflammation
caused by gluten intolerance, these enzymes are no longer available in
sufficient quantities to properly digest lactose and sucrose. Therefore, if
you are gluten intolerant, you run a high risk of being lactose/ sucrose
intolerant as well. This is why your doctor is likely to advise you to
eliminate all dairy products from your diet and reduce sugar intake until
the microvilli have recovered.
gluten-containing foods, cows milk, and soy, a four-day rotation diet will
help reverse the damage.
The four-day rotation diet was first introduced by Dr. Herbert Rinkel
in 1934. The idea is to structure your food intake to allow your body a
period of recovery between subsequent exposures to specific foods that
may be causing cyclical food reactions. This practice helps reduce the
chance of developing new allergies, encourages diet diversity by
providing a wide range of nutritional choices, discourages the
overindulgence of one food to compensate for the removal of another,
and aids in identifying foods that could be causing problems. When
following the rotation diet, a specific food is eaten on a particular day of
the rotation and is not eaten again until that day of the rotation comes
around again.
Good fats and oils are wasted. Inability to properly digest fats and
oils results from damage to the microvilli. Microvilli contain lacteals that
release a milky substance, which breaks down fats and oils into fine
droplets so your body can absorb them. Healthy fats and oils are critical
to the function of your entire body, especially the brain, heart, and
musculoskeletal system.
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Once you stop eating gluten, it can take 60 days or more for the
inflammation to subside. The overall damage to the small intestine takes
six months or more to heal. Deep pockets of the small intestine
eventually return to normal depth and the mucus plugs wash out.
Unfortunately, any infectious pathogens trapped in the deep pockets are
released and can infect other tissues.
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Arrowroot
Barley
Couscous
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I could share countless tales of how the elimination of gluten and its
cross-reactive foods alleviated or resolved a myriad of chronic health
conditions. Gluten intolerance significantly undermined my own health. If
I had known about gluten earlier in my life, my own saga of chronic
illnesses might have been prevented.
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Chapter 7
Your Bodys Uninvited Guests
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Blastocystis hominis
Clostridium difficile
Cryptosporidium parvum
Dientamoeba fragilis
Entamoeba histolytica
Giardia lamblia
Helicobacter pylori
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restrooms, and even getting an insect bite can expose you. However,
eating and drinking contaminated food and water presents the highest
risk. Data gathered by the National Resource Defense Council shows that
more than 40 million people annually are exposed to Cryptosporidium
and Giardia from public water suppliesand this is from water that has
been chlorinated and filtered.
I am not trying to scare you or keep you from enjoying your next
meal, but use caution and common sense about what you put into your
mouth. This is especially critical if you have a compromised mucosal
barrier and cannot adequately defend against infectious agents.
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A year passed before I heard from him again. One day, I received an
urgent call from Tom. He said, Im scheduled tomorrow morning for a
liver biopsy. I have three abscesses in my liver. I was praying and your
name came to me, so Im calling to ask your advice. I reminded him,
You had an E. histo infection about a year ago. Did you retest to make
sure you got rid of it?
Because all of his symptoms had gone away and he felt fine, he
hadnt retested. I explained that if he hadnt eradicated the E. histo
infection, his liver abscesses could be amebic abscesses. If they were, a
biopsy could result in his death within two to three hours from the
release of toxins that would overwhelm his body. Tom cancelled the
biopsy and I sent him a diagnostic test kit. As I suspected, his test result
for E. histo was positive. Although his initial treatment had controlled his
symptoms, it hadnt eliminated the infection, which had invaded his liver.
Thank God he called!
After Tom completed the first part of the treatment for E. histo, an
ultrasound showed that one of the abscesses in his liver had completely
dissolved; another had dissolved by 50 percent, and the third by 20
percent. Another round of treatment followed. The next liver ultrasound
showed that all three abscesses had completely dissolved. After this
ordeal, Tom did follow-up testing to be certain he had eradicated this
infection.
Lets take a closer look at E. histo and other common parasites, and
their roles in causing chronic stress.
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Entamoeba histolytica
Entamoeba histolytica is one of the most aggressive and invasive
parasites on our planet. Five to seven weeks after exposure, it invades
nerve and muscle tissue in the large intestine, damaging both and
potentially causing inflammatory bowel disease. It can ingest red blood
cells, penetrate tissues by boring through their walls, and if it invades the
liver, go systemic and travel throughout the body, typically causing
dysentery.
Giardia lamblia
Perhaps best known as the organism responsible for Beaver Fever
or Backpackers Diarrhea because of its proliferation in streams and
rivers, Giardia lamblia can completely destroy the surface of the mucosal
barrier. As with gluten intolerance, the destruction of the small
intestines barrier causes inflammation, reduction of surface area for
nutrient absorption, lactose and sucrose intolerance, and inability to
digest fats and oils. It can also result in the formation of deep pockets, in
which mucus plugs form, creating an environment that harbors and
protects infectious organisms.
If you ingest Giardia in cyst form, you may have no symptoms. For
those with healthy mucosal barrier defensesrecall the prisoner study
the cyst is more likely to be encapsulated and flushed out through the GI
tract before it can hatch and replicate. But, if you have compromised
mucosal immunity, your body will unlikely be able to eradicate the cyst
before it hatches. Within weeks, this cyst can produce millions of Giardia
organisms!
Giardia cysts can also infiltrate the gall bladder and enter the ducts
through which the liver, pancreas, and gall bladder release digestive
chemicals and enzymes into the small intestine. One such duct is the
common bile duct, which carries bile from the liver and gall bladder into
the small intestine. Infiltration of Giardia cysts into the common bile duct
changes the composition and flow of bile and impairs the digestion of
fats and oils.
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Given the destructive nature of Giardia, you might think that you
would have obvious symptoms once infected. This isnt always the case.
During the acute phase of an infection, symptoms are apparent, but you
might not associate them with a parasitic infection. You might believe
that the short-lived diarrhea and fever were caused by flu or bacteria
from contaminated food. This point emphasizes the need for routine lab
testing to rule out the presence of parasites.
Cryptosporidium parvum
Cryptosporidium parvum is an insidiously invasive organism. Capable
of living inside cells, it is so invasive that it can exist in the delicate
mucous membranes lining the eyes and the lungs. C. parvum destroys the
cells that it inhabits within the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in severe
mucosal barrier damage, including inflammation and malabsorption.
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Helicobacter pylori
At the beginning of this book, I told a story about a friend who died
as the result of an undiagnosed infection. A chronic infection of the
bacterium Helicobacter pylori likely caused the stomach cancer that killed
him. He was unable to produce adequate hydrochloric acid and couldnt
digest his food, particularly proteins. Instead of looking for the underlying
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The big event that woke up much of the medical community was the
awarding of the Nobel Prize for Medicine to Robin Warren and Barry
Marshall of Australia in 2005. These researchers were diligent in proving
that H. pylori caused ulcers even to the extent of infecting themselves.
Their dedicated research earned them the esteemed prize and
obliterated the prevailing dogma regarding ulcers.
How does H. pylori cause an ulcer? Because of its shape and the way
it moves, the bacteria can penetrate the stomachs protective mucous
lining where it produces urease, an enzyme that neutralizes good
stomach acids. This weakens the stomachs protective mucus, making
stomach cells more susceptible to the damaging influences of certain
acids and enzymes, thereby leading to ulcers in the stomach or small
intestine.
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Blastocystis hominis
Listing Blastocystis hominis as a harmful organism may raise a point
of disagreement with some in the medical field, but I stand by my
conviction that it is a harmful and increasingly common health offender.
A lack of clinical research emphatically establishing Blasto as a
pathogenthough mounting evidence supports its connection to
Irritable Bowel Syndromeis responsible for the lack of motivation by
pharmaceutical interests to develop a drug to target the bug. Mainstream
doctors commonly tell their patients that it is normal to have this bug
in the gastrointestinal tract. My perspective is simple. It is a parasite. It
shouldnt be in your body. Whenever my patients are treated for Blasto,
their health improves. Its presence in the body is another source of
chronic stress that must be removed.
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the very early phases of awareness about this organism, not to mention
the early phases of its epidemic development. Watch for research
developments at the Blastocystis Research Foundation based in Oregon
(www.bhomcenter.org). I anticipate exciting information from this group
that will motivate the healthcare community to take the bug more
seriously.
Lyme Disease
A discussion on infections would not be complete without
mentioning Lyme disease. Lyme is a serious health problem that stirs up
debate among health professionals given the controversy over its sources
and the complexity of diagnosing and treating it. It may well be the
number one emerging infectious disease of the 21st century. It is known
to be caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium, which is transmitted
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developed what they believe to be the best tests for Lyme, but the
approval process with the Food and Drug Administration has proven to
be arduous. Recently, a great deal of attention has been brought to
Lymes implication as a causative factor in autistic spectrum disorders
and Alzheimers. It is hoped that this will speed up the pace of well-
organized research at all levels of science and healthcare.
If you must eat out, avoid uncooked foods and rare meats, unless
you are very confident in the food handlers in the kitchen and dining
area. We all love a good meal. However, minutes of satisfaction now are
not worth a lifetime of jeopardized health. Be smart and moderate your
consumption of high-risk foods, especially in public facilities.
Water filters are a great option for home and office, especially those
that enhance the water after stripping its content (see
www.biohealthnow.com for resources). The minor drawback with all
filters is that you need to change and clean them often; otherwise, they
become a point of concentration and a breeding ground for the
contaminants theyre intended to remove. Given the importance of
healthful water, the initial setup and ongoing maintenance of a filtration
system is worth the cost and effort. And its not just about the water you
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drink or cook with. The water you bathe in should also be the purest
possible since your skin absorbs it.
Find out what is in your tap water. Contact your local utility and
request a copy of the Annual Water Quality Report. This report will give
you information about any contaminant violations in your water system
and help you decide on a filtration system. Consider the cost savings as
well. Bottled water ranges from $0.90 per gallon to $9.00 per gallon. Tap
water, on average, costs $0.002 per gallon! Since travelers commonly
report picking up parasites, researching your destination before you
depart is critical. A good resource for travelers is the Centers for Disease
Control website (www.cdc. gov), which provides information on recent
outbreaks, necessary preventive measures, and treatment options.
Months after determining they had been rid of the bacteria, the
symptoms returned. Then it came to me: Mike and his wife are dog
lovers. They have two big, beautiful Labrador retrievers that they allow to
lick their faces, even their mouths! We tested the dogs and, lo and
behold, both were positive for H. pylori.
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Chapter 8
The Mold Effect
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In all but the most severe cases of exposure to the most toxic molds,
symptoms typically resolve after the source of mold exposure is removed,
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although the very young and frail have been known to die from such
incidents. Even healthy, young people have been known to succumb to
Stachybotrys. I recently heard of a man who was remodeling his home.
He used an axe to chop into a wall, and unbeknownst to him had
unleashed millions of mold spores. The man died from this exposure.
Wearing an inexpensive safety mask could have saved his life.
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As molds grow, spores may be released into the air where they can
be easily inhaled. People who inhale large numbers of spores may
become ill. Possible health concerns are an important reason to prevent
mold growth and to clean up molds in indoor environments.
How can you determine if you might have a mold problem in your
home or office? Be on the alert for these signs:
Buckling floorboards
Crumbling walls
Damp basements or crawl spaces
Discolored areas on bathroom or kitchen tile, caulk, or grout
Improperly installed siding
Lack of ventilation (where indoor humidity can accumulate)
Musty or earthy scents
Roof or plumbing leaks (especially if undetected for a while)
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Sewer backups
Unusual stains on walls or ceilings
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Chapter 9
Heavy Metal Toxicity
Heavy metal exposure can wreak havoc on your health. Time and
time again, I have seen profound health improvements after the removal
of metals from patients. Metals can bind to cellular sites normally
occupied by essential minerals, disrupting metabolic activity. They inhibit
the uptake of calcium, depriving bone tissue of essential nutrition and
potentially causing osteoporosis. Metals can also damage the bodys
natural antioxidants, leaving you more susceptible to oxidative stress.
Vague and puzzling symptoms are sometimes related to toxic levels of
heavy metals.
Mercury
This discussion begins with mercury because so many people have
been exposed to it through amalgam dental fillings. One of the most
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Batteries
Broken fluorescent light bulbs
Chlorine bleach
Grains and seeds treated with methylmercury to kill bacteria and
fungi
Latex paints
Pesticides and fungicides
Plastics
Printers ink
Vaccines
Nickel
Nickel is toxic to the body in all but trace amountsthe body needs
minute amounts to maintain strong immune function. However, nickel is
responsible for more allergic reactions than all other metals combined,
and it can have a negative impact on the immune system. Nickel toxicity
depletes the bodys zinc stores, because nickel substitutes for zinc in
important metabolic pathways that support immune function. This
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happens because nickel and zinc are approximate in size, weight, and
positive charge. But thats where the similarity ends.
Auto exhaust
Batteries
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Lead
Im sure youve heard the expression Get the lead out. Well, thats
not a bad idea. Lead is a poisonous element that targets protoplasm, the
living substance inside your bodys cells. Lead has a particular affinity for
the cells of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and
peripheral nervous tissue. It can even infiltrate bone, weakening skeletal
structure. Lead exposure can increase blood pressure and cause fertility
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problems, nerve disorders, muscle and joint pain, irritability, and memory
or concentration problems.
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Batteries
Body powders
Candle wicks
Henna (hair and skin dye)
Imported canned food
Paint chips and dust
Pesticides
Plastics
Tap water (contaminated by soldered joints on copper pipes)
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Batteries
Cigarette smoke
Dental amalgam fillings
Fertilizers
Film development processes
Fish from polluted water
Arsenic
Incinerated by-products of rubber and plastics
Metal plating
Paints
Particles from auto tires and brakes
Silver polish
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Arsenic can enter the water supply from natural deposits in the earth
or from industrial and agricultural pollution. It is used for a variety of
purposes within industry and agriculture, and is a byproduct of copper
smelting, mining, and coal burning. Industries in the United States release
thousands of pounds of arsenic into the environment every year.
Aluminum
Aluminum is an environmentally abundant element to which we are
all exposed. Although it is considered a light metal compared with
other heavy metals because of its low atomic weight, it still causes
serious health problems in those exposed to unsafe levels. Inhaling
aluminum is one of the more harmful exposures, because this transports
the metal through nerves in the nose directly to the brain.
Workers who inhale aluminum dust may have lung problems, from
coughing to chronic emphysema. Some workers who breathe aluminum
dust or fumes showed decreased performance in tests that measure
nervous system function. People with kidney disease typically store
excess aluminum in their bodies, increasing the risk of developing bone
or brain diseases.
Chelating agents are used to bind metals and remove them from the
body.
Detoxification
If tests confirm that you have heavy metal toxicity, your doctor
should develop a detoxification program to remove the metals, while
using care to not overwhelm your immune and detoxification systems.
Heavy metal detoxification should be conducted under the guidance of a
doctor experienced in the proper use of chelation, saunas, and other
treatments that aid in the safe removal of heavy metals. My patients,
both children and adults, who have tested positive for heavy metal
toxicity, have all responded very well to carefully managed detoxification
programs.
also be useful. You may require intravenous fluids for complications from
poisoning, such as shock, anemia, and kidney failure. Like many of the
stresses discussed in this book, treatment measures depend on the
severity and timing of the exposure.
I would be remiss not to mention the link between heavy metals and
autistic spectrum disorders. Experts in the treatment of these disorders
routinely share success stories with me about children with autism who
improved as a result of undergoing heavy metal removal through
chelation. There is evidencethough aggressively repressed by interests
linked to the pharmaceutical titansthat some childhood vaccinations
contain toxic preservatives that contribute to autism, attention deficit
disorder, and related disorders. It saddens me greatly when I see money
taking priority over the general welfare of human beings, especially
children.
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Chapter 10
Chemically Stressed?
There are two types of chemical exposure: acute and chronic. Acute
exposures, such as burns from a corrosive cleansing agent or inhalation of
high levels of pesticides, are obvious, and typically result in unmistakable
symptoms very quickly. Chronic exposures, on the other hand, can be
very subtle or go unnoticed, with few or no apparent symptoms. The
latter form poses a menacing source of chronic stress.
Studies have found that endocrine disruptors can leach out of plastics,
even the type of plastic used to make intravenous bags for hospitals!
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About one year later, Neil regained his health. He was able to
continue his hobby by keeping the windows open, using fans to exhaust
dangerous fumes and by wearing protective gear. This case ended
happily because we identified the cause of his health complaints and
treated them before irreversible consequences developed.
Not Just for War Veterans: I have treated and have witnessed the
disabilities of several Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent
Orange. Dioxin, the active ingredient in Agent Orange, causes slow and
severe damage to the brain and nervous system. One man couldnt walk
down a hallway without bumping into the walls. He would stumble and
fall, and then, with great effort, would pick himself up, only to bounce off
the walls and stumble and fall again. His was one of the saddest cases I
have ever witnessed.
Dioxin was one of the toxic chemicals found at Love Canal in Niagara
Falls, New York. On August 2, 1978, the New York State Department of
Health declared a state of emergency at Love Canal when it became clear
that the 20,000 tons of chemical waste disposed there from 1920 to 1953
were the cause of the startling increase in cases of cancer, birth defects,
and miscarriage rates among local residents.
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The risks associated with chemicals from vehicle exhaust are well
documented. A study by the American Thoracic Society proves that living
near major traffic zones is a sure way to increase the chances of serious
illness. The study, performed in 2005 in San Diego, found that children
living within 75 meters of a major road had an almost 50 percent greater
risk of having had asthma symptoms in the past year than did children
who lived more than 300 meters away.
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The air in your home needs to move. If toxic gases or particulates are
in a stagnant environment, they will stay there, possibly saturating
carpets and furniture. Highly sophisticated air filtration equipment is
available to help keep your air clean, whether in your home, office, or
car. Natural, environmentally safe air fresheners and cleaning agents can
replace the chemically loaded products that bombard us in
advertisements. Safer alternatives to chemically treated carpets, drapes,
paints, furnitureand virtually all household itemsare available.
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Rule #1: Dont eat fast food. Besides the fact that it lacks the nutrient
levels of healthfully prepared foods, the meats in fast foods are laden
with growth hormones, the vegetables are laced with pesticides, the soft
drinks are loaded with refined sugar and artificial flavors, and fast foods
too numerous to mention have had their color and taste modified by
manufactured chemicals. And yes, these points are also true about foods
that you cant drive through to acquire.
Rule #2: Read the ingredients on labels and use common sense! In
many situations, thanks to the required ingredient lists on foods and
drinks, you have the power to decide whether you will be exposed to
chemicals in food and drinks. However, this is not always the case when
eating out or visiting the bar for a cocktail. Ask your server or bartender
about the specific contents of the meal or drink. They are obligated to
provide you with the facts. Avoid artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame
and saccharin) and coloring agents, as well as high fructose corn syrup;
these are not foods, they are poisons.
VOCs at levels higher than the HRLs are harmful to the central
nervous system, the kidneys, and the liver. VOCs may also cause irritation
when they contact the skin, or may irritate mucous membranes if
inhaled. Some VOCs are known or suspected carcinogens. For VOCs that
do not cause cancer, conservative methods are used to establish HRLs at
levels considered safe, even if the water is used every day for drinking,
cooking, bathing, and laundry.
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drinking and bathing in this water. than the water that runs from our
taps. Yet bottled watereven purified wateris not necessarily
completely free of contaminants; it simply has to test below FDA and
state-allowed levels of certain contaminants.
In 2005, the ABC news program 20/20 sent five different national
brands of bottled water and one sample of tap water taken from a New
York City drinking fountain to a lab for testing. The results showed no
difference, in terms of unhealthful contaminants, between the bottled
waters and the tap water. I believe that filtering your own tap water is
the most healthful and economical option. It also spares the environment
from pollution caused by the manufacturing and disposal of the plastic
bottles that carry the water.
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Plastics
The widespread use of plastics represents a source of exposure to
chemicals. Plastics are omnipresent in our society, particularly in homes,
work environments, hospitals, and schools. Many common household
items are made from plastics, including baby feeding bottles and teething
toys, kitchen appliances, cables, and floorings. Plastics contain
plasticizers, which are chemicalsand known carcinogenscalled
phthalates that give products their flexibility. They get into our food and
water from packaging and containers and, because theyre volatile
(readily vaporized), they also exist in the air we breathe.
In fact, the often admired new car smell comes from the
outgassing of plasticizers! About the time you smell them, these toxic
chemicals have likely made their way through your lungs into your
bloodstream and are headed for your brain and internal organs. The
damage is typically subtlecontributing not to overt symptoms, but to
the Chronic Stress Response.
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Similarly, our bodies get to the point where they cant handle even a
minor exposure to chemicals. At that point, we meet our individual
thresholds of reactivity; we become overburdened and our rain barrel
begins to overflow. People experience sensitivities to things that may
have been only annoyances in the past: vehicle emissions, cologne, paint
fumes, and cigarettes. For example, instead of the inhalation of
secondhand cigarette smoke being merely bothersome, it might trigger a
terrible headache and neck pain.
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Chapter 11
Electromagnetic Radiation
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This man told me that, at the time, there was a lot of controversy
over this matter. Politicians and medical authorities never acknowledged
that the power lines had anything to do with the residents dying from
cancer. I believed that it was an invisible source of chronic stress,
compromising the core functional systems of this towns residents. Sadly,
no one in authority was willing to investigate the relationship between
the presence of high-tension power lines and abnormally high cancer
rates.
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When I asked him about it, he told me the doctor who diagnosed his
malignant tumor in the United States said it was too large to be treated
surgically and that his cancer was fatal. That motivated him to search for
alternative therapies. Instead of repeating the same dire prognosis, the
Mexican doctors predicted it would take about 10 days to dissolve the
tumor and that whatever was left over would pass through his bowels.
Two weeks later, I ran into him in the same restaurant and I was
amazed to see that the tumor had totally disappeared! He told me that
on the tenth day of treatment, he saw what was left of his tumor pass in
a bowel movement, just like the doctors had told him it would. I was
happy for himand intrigued. Obviously, the treatment was effective,
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but I wanted more than anecdotal evidence; I wanted to know how this
oddly wonderful event had occurred.
The man was eager to recount his treatment. He told me that the
principal therapy his doctors used was surgical implantation of an
electrical probe directly into the tumor. An electromagnetic field then
pulsed through this probe into the tumor, causing it to dissolve little by
little. On the tenth day, the tumor had completely disappeared. I never
saw this man again and often wonder if the disappearance of his tumor
truly meant that he was in remission.
Detection is Protection
I had a patient who realized that his years of insomnia had begun
when he started sleeping in his bedroom, having previously fallen asleep
at his desk and having spent the night on the day bed in his study for
several years. To satisfy his wifes desire to have her husband sleeping by
her side, he began going to bed after he finished reading. This is when
the insomnia began. It wasnt until 12 sleepless years later that he made
the connection that something in his bedroom was keeping him up at
night, and it wasnt his wifes snoring!
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Chapter 12
Trauma, Inflammation, and Pain
supporting the vertebrae of the neck. It also causes head trauma and
accompanying inflammation, because the brain literally gets bounced
around inside the skull upon impact.
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Pain Control
Chronic pain is difficult to treat clinically and yet, if you have chronic
pain, addressing it as soon as possible is crucial, ideally using a method
that has no toxic side effects. Unless your pain cycle can be broken,
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recovery from the original trauma may be impossible because your body
gets stuck in the Chronic Stress Response, handicapping the healing
process.
Acupuncture
Chiropractic
Cold and heat applications
Energetic therapies like hypnosis, and Reiki biofeedback,
breathwork,
Exercise regimens designed to strengthen injured areas
Far Infrared Therapy
Homeopathy
Massage
Osteopathy
Over-the-counter products like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (for
short-term use only)
Physical therapies such as whirlpools and thermal treatments
Prescription drugs such as hydrocodone (Vicodin) or prednisone
(as a last resort or when the pain is absolutely unbearable)
Rest and relaxation
Integrative Rehabilitation
The single most important factor in developing a treatment plan for
pain is to first accurately diagnose its cause, and then create a
comprehensive, integrated rehabilitation program. As mentioned in the
first chapter, I once worked in drug and alcohol intervention and
rehabilitation with my brother, Bob Timmins, the founder of the
Adolescent Substance Abuse Program. I administered biofeedbackan
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effective at alleviating the sensation of pain, they can actually impede the
healing of the initial trauma by being a contributing source of stress on
the liver and other organs, and by inhibiting the healing aspects of the
inflammatory response.
Paulas parents felt so guilty about the incident that they never discussed
it with her.
As you can see, physical trauma and its related pain and
inflammation can be significant sources of chronic stress. When we are
able to heal from inflammation and pain, the chronic stress cycle is
broken, the exhausted adrenals are repaired, and the body regains its
balance.
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PART III
THE FOUR LIFESTYLE
FACTORS
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Laura was able to cope with the stress because she had addressed
three critical lifestyle areas: nutrition, sleep, and exercise. Removing
commonly offensive foodslike those containing dairy and gluten
along with practicing eating habits that help stabilize blood sugar levels,
went a long way in stabilizing her brain chemistry, thus stabilizing her
moods.
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Eating to Thrive
Many well-publicized diets claim to be the best and the healthiest.
Personally, I believe an optimal diet exists for each individual, based on
his or her unique biochemistry. There may be a popular diet out there
that works for you, but most likely youll need to refine the guidelines to
suit your unique needs. Working with a skilled nutritionist, developing
and trusting your intuition, listening to your body, and maintaining day-
to-day discipline will help you dial in an eating plan that satisfies your
taste buds and meets your bodys nutritional requirements.
Blood Sugar Balance. Regardless of the diet you follow, the primary
goal should always be the same: maintaining good blood sugar (glucose)
control. You can achieve and maintain optimal health only when you are
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If your blood sugar is too low, you will mobilize cortisol to break
down muscle, organ, and bone tissuenot fatto ensure that a constant
supply of blood sugar is delivered to your brain and the rest of your body.
In effect, your body digests itself to continue operating. If your blood
sugar is sustained at high levels, metabolism becomes chaotic and blood
vessels may become damaged, which in turn creates a cascade of
undesirable events. Stable blood sugar levels, on the other hand, form a
strong foundation for hormone balance and homeostasis.
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As you can see from the examples, a high-glycemic index food may
have a low-glycemic load. However, a low-glycemic food may have
detrimental effects because of its high-glycemic load. Therefore, you
dont need to avoid all high-GI foods, but do control how much you
consume at any one time.
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A complete protein contains all of the essential amino acids that the
body must obtain through food each day, preferably at each meal. These
amino acids are called essential because they are necessary for life and
the body cannot manufacture them. All animal products, except gelatin,
contain complete proteins. All vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and most
legumes are incomplete proteins and must be combined to create a
complete protein.
High-fat protein sources include red meats, duck, the dark meat of
chicken and turkey, halibut, mackerel, swordfish, eggs, whole milk dairy
products, nut butters, nuts, and seeds. Consider consuming these dense
proteins less frequently and in small quantities.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
Most people associate carbs with bread, pasta, and other grain
derived foods. These foods are highest in carbohydrate content per
volume. As mentioned before, some of the healthiest people I have
known ate no grains, but this does not mean you should jump on the
bandwagon. If anything, reduce the amount of grain products you
consume gradually and see how you feel. Some individuals may need
more or less carbs and protein than othersand in the right balanceto
feel mentally and physically renewed and energized. A skilled nutritionist
can support you in determining the balance that is best for you.
Healthy fats are the building blocks for hormones and cell
membranes, and are responsible for nerve conduction. Eaten in small
quantities, they help control your weight by slowing down and regulating
the rate at which sugar enters your bloodstream. This controlled release
helps prevent blood sugar spikes that result in excess insulin secretion
and fat storage.
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Polyunsaturated fats are found in corn oil, flaxseed oil, hemp oil,
safflower oil, sesame oil, and salmon oil, and in most cold water fish.
They help to lower your total blood cholesterol by decreasing LDL
cholesterol.
Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in omega-3 eggs (from free-range
chickens fed flaxseeds). Omega-6 fatty acids are found in avocados, eggs,
sunflower oil, some nuts, seeds, and poultry. Almonds are another great
source of omegas, and of protein, fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc.
Beware that almonds are difficult for most people to digest because of an
enzyme-inhibiting substance in their coating. Soaking the nuts for 12
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Saturated fats have been labeled the bad guys, as they are
incriminated as a contributing cause of heart disease. However,
consuming a limited amount of high-quality saturated fat is
actually beneficial. By my estimation, your daily caloric intake
should be limited to less than 10 percent saturated fat. Saturated
fat is found in meat and poultry, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, lard-
pork fat, beef tallow, butter, and cocoa butter.
The following are a few important facts about saturated fats that
may surprise you:
Saturated fats play a vital role in the health of our bonesat least
50 percent of our dietary fats need to be saturated for calcium to
be incorporated effectively into the skeletal structure.
Short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids (found in ghee and
coconut oil) have important antimicrobialproperties, protecting us
against harmful microorganisms in the digestive tract.
They are needed for the proper utilization of essential fatty acids
(EFAs).
They constitute at least 50 percent of a cells membrane,
contributing to the cells integrity.
They protect the liver from the toxic effects of alcohol and certain
drugs.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
harmful because they turn into a trans fat during the process of
hydrogenation. Trans fats are artificially altered to be solid at room
temperature to preserve shelf life. Trans fats both raise bad (LDL)
cholesterol and lower good (HDL) cholesterol. A high LDL cholesterol level
in combination with a low HDL cholesterol level significantly increases the
risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death for both men and
womena dietary double whammy that you must avoid.
Acidosis is common in our society, given the typical diet that is far
too high in acid-producing animal products like meat, eggs, and dairy, and
far too low in alkaline-producing foods like fresh vegetables. Americans
tend to eat acid-producing processed foods like white flour and sugar and
drink acid-producing beverages like coffee and soft drinks. We also use
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Alkalinity is not just about what you eat but how you feel and think.
Your emotions greatly influence the bodys pH. Joyous, happy, love-filled
emotions tend to create alkaline-forming chemical reactions in the body.
Conversely, negative emotions such as anger, fear, jealousy, and hate
create acid-forming chemical reactions in the body.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
One of the key factors is the water you drink. Unfortunately, most of
the water we consume is acidicincluding water treated with distillation,
reverse osmosis, and deionization, all processes that remove minerals.
Alkaline water is not readily available in most communities. However, you
can solve this problem by adding mineralsin the form of unrefined sea
saltsto your drinking water. Provided you are not on a sodium
restricted diet, adding half a teaspoon of unrefined sea salt to a quart of
drinking water can be beneficial when consumed in moderation.
Unrefined sea salt contains not only sodium chloride but also 80-plus
trace elements and minerals from the ocean that are in perfect symbiosis
with each other and the human body matrix. Unrefined sea salt offers a
remarkable mineral balance relative to the internal environment of the
human body. All of its elements are dosed naturally in proportions close
to those of the internal human environment.
Measuring pH
Being aware of the pH condition of your body is a good practice. You
can measure your pH using urine or saliva. The test is simple and requires
less than a minute of your time. Testing strips are available online and at
your local drug store. Look for test strips that register half-point
increments. When using these test strips as your guideline, balance the
body pH between 7 and 7.5. If the test strips read above 7.5, consume
acid-forming foods or beverages until it stabilizes between 7 and 7.5.
While not always practical, this effort alone can greatly improve your
health.
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2. Pre-wash the produce, place it into the bowl, and soak for 20 to 30
minutes.
5. Chew your food well. Take time to sit down and eat in a relaxed
environment. Digestion begins with the sight, smell, and taste of food,
and is enhanced as you chew. Primary digestion of carbohydrates begins
in the mouth as enzymes in saliva mix with food. Our parents were right
when they said, Eat with your mouth closed and chew your food. This
improves digestion and slows down the rate at which food converts to
sugar and enters into the bloodstream.
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The Chronic Stress Crisis
results of digestion can be either good or bad. When you are not focused
on the act of eatingyou are thinking about responsibilities at work or
watching television, for examplethe energy of digestion is diverted
away from the activity of digestion. If you are emotionally charged while
eating, then the sympathetic nervous system dominates. The blood
supply is sent to the peripheral muscles away from the stomach,
digestive juices stop flowing, and the peristalsis of elimination stops.
When the body and mind are at rest, the parasympathetic nervous
system dominates and digestion and elimination proceed normally.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
On a related note, if you are not already doing so, get a little
exposure to natural sunlight daily. Too many people avoid it altogether
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The Chronic Stress Crisis
Sleeping to Recover
Ample rest for the body is critical, yet an estimated 68 percent of the
United States population has insomnia. They take more than 20 minutes
to fall asleep, they wake up periodically throughout the night, or they
wake up and are unable to fall back to sleep. These sleep patterns fit the
clinical definition of insomnia, a major source of chronic stress that
promotes a Chronic Stress Response and compromises the hormone,
immune, digestive, and detoxification systems. Cortisol, DHEA,
progesterone, melatonin, human growth hormone, estrogens, and
testosterone all depend on quality sleep, as do neurotransmitters in the
brain that can regenerate only with deep sleep. Poor sleep interferes
with virtually all body functions and undermines homeostasis. You cant
have optimal health and longevity if you are not sleeping well.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
Its interesting to note that we live in a time where the days are
extended with artificial light, which creates a shorter dark cycle. By
shortening the dark cycle, we deprive ourselves of sleep. Try sleeping in a
room that is completely dark. A dark sleeping environment supports the
bodys ability to regenerate. Another reason we are sleeping less, in
addition to indoor lighting and multitasking lifestyles, is the universal
acceptance and abuse of caffeine.
Poor blood sugar control may be a factor in your inability to rest and
recover given the highs and lows at play with your nervous system and
hormone levels. Exercise can support your ability to get a good nights
sleep, or can interfere with it. Both over-exercisingsuch as pushing
yourself to run even when youre tired, injured, or experiencing painor
exercising during times when you should be resting can feed this
problem. Emotion is another lifestyle component that affects the quality
of your sleep. If you are easily upset and carry around the negative
emotions of the day, your mind will be busy and your body will be on
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The Chronic Stress Crisis
alert. Learn to breathe deeply throughout the day and not internalize
negative experiences.
Have you ever wondered why your cold or flu symptoms get worse
at night? This happens because cortisol production regulates your
immune system on a 24-hour cycle. As cortisol levels drop at night, your
immune cells become highly active. The immune cells kill large numbers
of bacteria and viruses, causing greater mucus production. As a result,
you experience more congestion and coughing as your body attempts to
get rid of the mucus. At daybreak, when cortisol levels rise, the activity of
the immune cells tapers off. The immune cells then reset and recondition
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Dr. William G. Timmins
themselves to prepare for the next nightly cycle. This process is referred
to as immune trafficking.
In 1910, the average adult slept nine to ten hours a night. Today, the
average adult gets six to seven hours of this precious commodity. If you
are in the latter camp, try getting to bed earlier, and limit the evenings
barrage of lights, computers, and televisions, as this makes it that much
harder for nature to take its course.
This old saying is true about the body: If you dont use it, youll lose
it. Your body was made to move, not to be sedentary. Movement is one
of the keys to life and health. When you exercise, your breathing
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Dr. William G. Timmins
Fight or Flight. When under mental and emotional stress, the limbic
system responds directly to the circumstances. Therefore, your
perception and internalization of lifes events can enhance or harm your
health, based on the resulting limbic response. This is the essence of the
mind/body connection.
Lets say you have a face-to-face encounter with a bear in the woods.
Your brain immediately launches a fight-or-flight response, which
stimulates your autonomic nervous system and triggers the response at
the hormone level. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are
released. When such a stress occurs repeatedly, this chronic
overstimulation of your nervous system can lead to suppressed immunity
and decreased energy because of the increased output of stress
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The Chronic Stress Crisis
Imagine that youre driving on the freeway and are suddenly forced
onto the shoulder by a car that swerves into your lane. You barely miss
being in a major accident. Typically, you have one of two responses:
You may feel anger toward the driver who put your life in danger,
internalizing the event and remaining upset for hours.
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Dr. William G. Timmins
You may feel relief that you avoided the accident and that no one
was injured. You may believe that the other driver either didnt
see your car or was forced to turn to avoid another driver or an
obstacle. Instead of negatively internalizing this event, you
address it positively and carry on with your day.
For example, a young mother with two kids and a full-time job begins
her day by getting the kids ready for school. The phone rings; its the
secretary from her office calling. The secretary informs her that a critical
meeting set for 10 A.M. has been rescheduled for 9. Immediately after
the mother hangs up the phone, one of the kids spills milk all over
herself. The mother rushes to change her childs clothes and clean the
mess, all the while mentally rearranging her day so she can run important
errands after work instead of during the day and make it to her meeting
on time. Most of these events are out of her control, and this level of
multitasking and understandable frustration may cause her to feel
mentally and emotionally overwhelmed. This young mother must address
the problem or it will keep her in an ongoing fight-or-flight state.
Being able to think on your feet is great, but not to the point of
collapse! The key is to find your balance point. If youre feeling mentally
and emotionally overwhelmed, then youre not in balance. The answer?
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Dr. William G. Timmins
people who dont want what we want. There are many things we cant
control. By accepting this fact and relinquishing the desire to control
every detail of your life and the lives of others, you can vastly reduce
mental and emotional stress.
You must recognize the truth about your lifestyle habits. For
example, Im not following good glycemic control and healthy
diet choices.
You must own this truth, accepting that its your responsibility, as
only you have the power to change your situation.
You must take action. You can acknowledge truth and own it, but
without taking action, nothing will change.
Dont delay. Start now! Make every day one filled with awareness
and positive decisions. This is the most powerful thing you can do for
your health and happiness. There are no magic pills or shots. There are
no shortcuts. Doctors cannot help you if you dont help yourself. Evaluate
how you can improve your lifestyle and take actiontoday, tomorrow,
and for the rest of your life!
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Dr. William G. Timmins
Epilogue
Get the Care You Deserve
look inside the body. Technologies like the CAT scan, MRI, and virtual
colonoscopy have added a new dimension to medical diagnostic
capabilities. Despite such advancements, these tools do not reveal the
cause of disease. However, they are extremely useful at identifying a
problem early in the disease process. This information, used in
conjunction with functional diagnostic assessments, provides a powerful
means to uncover the causes of potentialas well as existing
pathologies.
I wrote this book to help you understand how your body reacts
under stresses, both seen and hidden, and how your bodys critical
systems interrelate. I emphasize the importance of good lifestyle habits,
and how they can prevent illness and improve health. I use functional lab
assessments to discover the underlying cause of any health issue. Much
of what I tell every single patient that seeks my help is said in this book
for your benefit and for the benefit of the people you care about.
Its your life, your health, and your choice. God bless and be well.
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Online Resource
www.biohealthnow.com
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Dr. William G. Timmins
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Chapter Two: Diagnose and Treat the Cause, Not Just the
Symptoms
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Index
A
ACTH 58, 59
Addisons disease 45, 54
Adrenal exhaustion 51, 54, 55, 57, 74
Adrenal glands 27, 42, 44, 45, 48, 52, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 147, 173, 180
Adrenal syndrome 54, 55, 57, 58, 61, 62, 147, 148, 149, 190
Air filter 104
Air pollution 8, 9, 41, 127, 196
Aldosterone 28, 44, 46
Allergies 2, 4, 6, 18, 25, 42, 55, 56, 65, 75, 76, 85, 112, 126, 194
Alpha linolenic acid 164
Aluminum 8, 10, 109, 118, 119, 195
Aluminum exposure, sources 119
Amalgam fillings 7, 13, 47, 116
Antigen overload 65
Antigens 65, 68, 75
Antioxidants 109, 133
Anxiety 4, 40, 41, 46, 51, 55, 58, 152, 157, 161, 175
Arsenic 109, 116, 117, 118
Arsenic exposure, sources 117, 118
Asthma 126, 194, 195, 196
Auto-immune disease 68, 89
B
Bacteria 28, 49, 65, 66, 76, 77, 84, 87, 89, 91, 92, 93, 98, 111, 162, 170, 175
Benzene 123, 129
Biofeedback 3, 150, 151, 153, 183
Blastocystis hominis 66, 83, 92, 193, 194
Bob Timmins 3, 150
Bone 28, 44, 109, 113, 115, 118, 119, 149, 157, 178
Brain 13, 18, 27, 28, 44, 48, 54, 57, 58, 59, 76, 77, 87, 94, 95, 104, 113, 118, 125, 131,
137, 138, 148, 153, 155, 157, 161, 167, 171, 173, 175, 179, 180, 196
C
Cadmium 109, 115, 116
Cadmium exposure, sources 115, 116
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Dr. William G. Timmins
Cancer 21, 22, 24, 29, 31, 36, 37, 41, 49, 77, 79, 85, 90, 112, 117, 125, 129, 136, 137,
138, 139, 140, 149, 157, 164, 173, 175, 187, 193, 197, 200
Candida 52, 77, 84
Carbohydrates 60, 77, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162, 169, 170, 200
Carbon filters 130
Cardiovascular disease 31, 41, 157, 201
Cell mediated immunity 29
Chelation 120, 121, 134
Chemical exposure, sources 18, 122, 123, 124, 126, 128, 134
Chemical hypersensitivity 12, 15, 198
Chemicals 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 29, 42, 47, 49, 60, 88, 97, 102, 107, 120, 122,
123, 124, 125, 126, 128, 129, 131, 132, 133, 134, 138, 164, 168
Chemotherapy 36, 187
Chronic fatigue 23, 31, 50, 51, 73, 74, 84, 102, 112, 124, 141, 152, 198, 199
Chronic stress 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 27, 30, 31, 36, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48,
49, 50, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 75, 82, 92, 93, 94, 100, 101, 108,
120, 121, 122, 131, 134, 137, 138, 141, 144, 147, 148, 149, 150, 153, 156, 173, 178, 179,
187
Chronic stress response ix, 13, 17, 18, 19, 27, 30, 36, 40, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 53, 54, 58,
66, 67, 71, 93, 94, 100, 120, 121, 122, 131, 134, 137, 144, 147, 150, 156, 173, 179, 187
Circadian rhythm 60, 173
Clostridium difficile 83, 93
Cortisol 13, 28, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 65, 82, 147, 148, 157, 173, 175,
176, 180, 191, 200
Cortisol to DHEA ratio 48, 55, 58, 60
Cortisone 28, 48
Cows milk dairy 78, 81
Crohns disease 66, 112
Cryptosporidium parvum 52, 66, 83, 89, 193
D
Dental fillings 13, 109, 110
Depression 31, 41, 46, 50, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58, 73, 74, 84, 89, 111, 114, 124, 126, 141, 152,
155
Detoxification 11, 12, 14, 15, 26, 30, 31, 37, 44, 50, 51, 52, 60, 66, 74, 87, 120, 134, 143,
166, 172, 173, 181, 186
DHEA 6, 7, 8, 16, 19, 28, 29, 31, 44, 45, 46, 48, 51, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 61, 64, 65, 72 ,78,
83, 87, 90, 96, 97, 101, 105, 109, 124, 129, 141, 144, 150, 152, 173, 176, 178, 184, 188,
193, 200, 201
Diarrhea 9, 68, 72, 83, 88, 89, 90, 93, 102, 112, 114
Dientamoeba fragilis 83, 93, 193
Diet 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 19, 22, 32, 36, 42, 74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 80, 81, 84, 104, 112, 133, 155,
156, 157, 160, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 172, 173, 184, 192, 200, 201
Diets 32, 36, 74, 78, 79, 81, 156, 162, 167
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The Chronic Stress Crisis
E
Eating 5, 6, 23, 26, 27, 34, 36, 37, 38, 43, 58, 61, 65, 71, 73, 74, 76, 78, 80, 85, 88, 94, 99,
100, 101, 106, 107, 126, 128, 134, 139, 151, 152, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162,
167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 175, 176, 180, 186
Electromagnetic radiation 135, 136, 137, 138, 142, 144, 198
Emotional and mental trauma 42, 43, 47, 153, 156, 182, 188
Endocrine system 54, 180, 181
Entamoeba histolytica 66, 83, 85, 87
Environmental illness ix, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15, 122
Essential fatty acids 164, 165
Estradiol 28, 46
Estriol 28, 46
Estrogens 27, 28, 44, 46, 79, 173
Estrone 28, 46
Exercise 15, 18, 19, 31, 32, 36, 41, 42, 47, 132, 150, 155, 156, 174, 176, 177, 178, 179,
201, 202
F
Fast food 128
Fatigue 20, 23, 31, 40, 42, 48, 50, 51, 56, 57, 59, 61, 72, 73, 74, 84, 93, 95, 99, 102, 103,
105, 112, 114, 124, 141, 147, 152, 155, 157, 161, 166, 198, 199
First-line immunity 63, 67, 68, 96
Food allergies 18, 55, 56, 75, 112
Food intolerances 30, 41
Food proteins 65
Foods to avoid on a gluten free diet 80, 81
Free radicals 132
Functional diagnostic 74, 187
Functional diagnostic testing 74
Fungi 65, 76, 77, 101, 105, 111, 118
G
Gastrointestinal system 29, 31, 50, 78, 96
Gauss meter 140, 141, 143
Geophysical stress 41
Giardia lamblia 52, 66, 67, 83, 88, 191
Gliadin 16, 66, 67, 71, 72, 78, 80, 191
Glucagon 157, 158
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Dr. William G. Timmins
Gluconeogenesis 48
Glucose 47, 48, 59, 60, 156, 158, 201
Gluten-free 74, 78, 79, 80
Gluten intolerance 41, 47, 52, 67, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 81, 88, 148, 163, 192
Glycemic control 47, 48, 157, 163, 184
Glycemic index 158, 159, 160, 200, 201, 206
Glycemic load 158, 159, 160, 162, 200
H
Hair loss 56, 114, 117
HCL, hydrochloric acid 22, 67, 74, 90, 170
Heart 18, 20, 21, 26, 31, 38, 39, 48, 56, 76, 83, 91, 95, 111, 114, 126, 127, 137, 148, 164,
165, 166, 178, 180, 187, 198, 200
Heavy Metals 7, 16, 19, 23, 29, 42, 47, 60, 109, 118, 119, 120, 121, 134
Heavy metal toxicity 23, 109, 119, 120, 121, 134, 195
Heavy metal toxicity, diagnosing 120
Helicobacter pylori 21, 38, 42, 43, 83, 90, 91, 98, 193, 194
High blood sugar 157
HIV 50, 66, 67, 191
Homeostasis 24, 25, 27, 40, 157, 172, 173, 180
Homeostasis, and five stages of disor- der 25
Hormone imbalance 42, 43, 44, 74
Hormones 13, 18, 27, 28, 43, 44, 45, 46, 50, 54, 55, 58, 61, 65, 75, 122, 128, 157, 163,
169, 180, 181
Human growth hormone 50, 52, 61, 173, 176, 178
Humoral immunity 29
Hypermotility 51, 52, 77, 88
Hypothalamus 27, 58, 167, 174, 180
I
Immune cells 49, 60, 149, 175
Immune complex 65, 66
Immune trafficking 176
Immunity 21, 29, 48, 52, 54, 60, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68, 69, 84, 88, 90, 96, 112, 177, 180
Immunocytes 60, 64, 65
Immunoglobulins 49, 60, 64
Infectious agents 29, 49, 60, 63, 66, 85, 148
Inflammation 30, 38, 42, 49, 56, 64, 66, 67, 71, 72, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 88, 89, 95, 100,
147, 148, 149, 151, 153, 164, 168, 192, 199
Inflammatory bowel disease 66, 87, 112
Injury 18, 117, 147, 148, 152, 177, 199
Insomnia 31, 40, 46, 55, 73, 74, 112, 140, 141, 152, 173, 200, 201
Insulin 27, 48, 157, 158, 163, 200
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The Chronic Stress Crisis
L
Lab testing 17, 26, 28, 31, 33, 42, 49, 89, 120
Lacteals 76
Lactose 41, 75, 78, 80, 88
Lactose intolerance 41
Lead 18, 23, 37, 40, 41, 45, 47, 50, 54, 55, 59, 67, 71, 76, 82, 91, 102, 109, 112, 113, 114,
115, 118, 148, 149, 159, 166, 180, 186, 196
Lead exposure, sources 113, 114, 115, 196
Light cycle disruption 42
Linolenic acid 164
Liver x, 30, 31, 48, 52, 56, 58, 60, 65, 72, 86, 87, 88, 112, 114, 115, 117, 129, 151, 152,
157, 165
Low blood sugar 55, 157, 169
Lymphocytes 28, 50, 102
M
Malabsorption 42, 51, 72, 76, 89
Malnutrition 51, 77, 142
Medical intervention 19, 21, 23, 26, 36, 39, 50, 53, 62, 74
Menopause 75, 79
Menstrual difficulties 46
Mercury 7, 13, 37, 47, 109, 110, 111, 112, 195, 196
Mercury exposure, sources 110
Metabolism 30, 43, 44, 54, 60, 105, 116, 157, 172, 173, 201
Methylmercury from fish consumption 110
Microvilli 75, 76
Mold 42, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 194, 195
Mold contamination 102
Mold problems in public buildings 107
Molds 7, 19, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 194, 195
Mood swings 57, 111
Mucosal antibodies 64
Mucosal barrier 28, 29, 30, 49, 60, 63, 64, 66, 67, 68, 72, 76, 77, 85, 87, 88, 89, 96, 112,
191
Mucosal Immunity 29, 69, 88
Mucus plugs 76, 78, 88
Multitasking 174, 182, 183
Muscle 9, 10, 44, 46, 48, 56, 59, 60, 72, 73, 83, 87, 95, 112, 114, 119, 142, 147, 149, 151,
157, 169, 171, 178
Mycotoxins 104, 105, 194
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Dr. William G. Timmins
N
Natural killer (NK) cells 29, 49
Nervous system 24, 48, 58, 84, 89, 113, 116, 118, 125, 129, 167, 170, 171, 174, 180, 181,
182, 183
Neurological 14, 89, 102, 103, 110, 111, 117, 116
Neurotoxins 89, 102
Nickel 37, 109, 111, 112, 113, 115, 197
Nickel, exposures 115
Nickel toxicity 111, 112
Nutritional products 37
O
Organic 10, 73, 97, 101, 104, 105, 106, 116, 118, 128, 169, 172, 197, 199, 202
Osteoporosis 73, 74, 75, 77, 109, 166
Ovaries 27, 61
Oxidative stress 109, 132, 133, 172
P
Pain 3, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31, 33, 36, 42, 56, 72, 77, 93, 95, 110, 111, 114,
115, 116, 118, 119, 123, 124, 127, 133, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 174, 178, 180,
199
Pain, acute 22, 148
Pain, chronic 3, 77, 149, 151
Parasite definition 82
Pathogen definition 60
Pathogens 29, 49, 60, 64, 78, 93
Pesticides 10, 14, 36, 73, 111, 115, 118, 122, 124, 127, 128, 138, 169
Pituitary 27, 58, 61, 178, 180, 190
Plasticizers 131, 197
Plastics 111, 115, 116, 122, 123, 131
PMS 57, 58
Pollution 8, 9, 41, 117, 123, 127, 130, 196
Pregnenolone 27, 28, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 55, 58, 65, 82
Pregnenolone Steal 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 55, 65, 82
Prevention 19, 31, 35, 37, 53, 141, 184, 201
Progesterone 27, 28, 44, 46, 58, 61, 173
Protein 16, 22, 27, 29, 45, 60, 64, 65, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 88, 90, 95, 132, 157, 158, 159,
161, 162, 163, 164, 169, 192
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The Chronic Stress Crisis
R
Radiation 18, 19, 36, 42, 63, 135, 136, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 187,
198
Reverse osmosis 130, 168
S
Salivary testing 45
Saunas 14, 120, 134
Secretory immunoglobulins 49, 60
Shellfish 110, 118
Sleep 10, 15, 19, 32, 36, 41, 42, 44, 46, 47, 57, 61, 74, 89, 111, 140, 141, 142, 145, 155,
156, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 200, 201
Soy 76, 78, 79, 80, 104, 192
Soy protein isolate 78
Stachybotrys chartarum 102, 103
Stress ix, x, ix, 1, 3, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32,
33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 64, 65,
66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 75, 77, 82, 84, 86, 92, 93, 94, 99, 100, 101, 108, 109, 112, 120, 121,
122, 126, 131, 132, 133, 134, 137, 138, 141, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151,
152, 153, 155, 156, 166, 172, 173, 176, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 187, 188, 193,
196, 198, 199, 200, 201
Stress management 15, 32, 36, 151, 156
Stress, situational 40, 155
Stress, subclinical 37, 41
Subclinical 20, 31, 36, 37, 39, 41, 47, 55, 69, 71, 72, 73, 81, 148
Subclinical gluten intolerance 47, 71, 72, 73, 81
Sucrose 41, 75, 88
sucrose intolerance 41, 88
Sulfhydryl groups 132
T
Testosterone 28, 44, 46, 173
Toxic products 123
Toxoplasma gondii 94
Trans-fats 165, 166
Trauma 42, 147, 148, 149, 150, 152, 153, 181, 199
V
Villi 66, 75, 76
Viruses 28, 41, 49, 65, 66, 175
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Dr. William G. Timmins
W
Water 4, 6, 8, 29, 30, 31,36, 46, 67, 71, 85, 89, 97, 98, 101, 102, 104, 106, 107, 115, 116,
117, 118, 119, 122, 123, 124, 128, 129, 130, 131, 133, 142, 145, 164, 168, 170, 171, 172,
177, 179, 193, 195
Water filters 97
Water, filtration 97, 98, 130
Weight gain 46, 57, 169
Wheat 66, 71, 73, 80, 113, 158, 160
Whiplash 42, 147, 148
Y
Yeast 49, 50, 52, 65, 77, 84, 88, 92, 101
Z
Zoonotic disease 98
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